In Aztec beliefs, the primary purpose of the sacred pyramids was for religious rituals and ceremonies, including human sacrifices to appease the gods. These pyramids served as temples dedicated to deities like Huitzilopochtli and Tezcatlipoca. They also functioned as social and political centers for the Aztec society. The grand architecture reflected their beliefs in the afterlife and the importance of maintaining cosmic order, emphasizing the connection between the earthly realm and the divine.